Saturday 30 April 2016 19:49, UK
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes was full of praise for his side's performance after they routed Motherwell 4-1 to seal a second-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership for the second consecutive season.
The Dons are now unable to deny Celtic a fifth straight title - bar a miracle - due to the Hoops' vastly-superior goal difference, but McInnes was a satisfied man after goals from Kenny McLean, Niall McGinn, Adam Rooney and Jonny Hayes secured Aberdeen's 22nd league victory of the season.
McInnes said: "I was just delighted with the performance today. To cement second place with three games to go pleases me.
"There's been a lot of talk from other teams about them reining us in, so it's pleasing to see off that challenge and to it so convincingly.
"Our performance in our last home game against Hamilton was a sparking side's display of attacking intent, and I thought today was even better against a good team who don't always let you get it your own way.
"Last week as a team I felt we lost out in every department, and today I thought we got on top of our opponents and won every battle."
Aberdeen lost 3-0 at St Johnstone last weekend and McInnes was pleased with the way they bounced back as he wants to beat last season's points tally of 75 - they have 71 with three games remaining.
He said: "We've got five points to get over the final three games to beat our points total from last season, and again beat the record for points accumulated for a non-Old Firm club, and we'll try to do that."
Motherwell boss Mark McGhee had no complaints over the 88th-minute red card dished out to his captain Keith Lasley, an incident which also saw Well assistant Stephen Robinson ordered to the stands.
McGhee said: "I've had a couple of incidents recently with the officials where I've felt I've been justified, but went away a wee bit embarrassed by my reaction, and even when we played Aberdeen last time, I reacted badly to Derek [McInnes] although we later sorted it out.
"With that in mind, myself and my assistant came here today with a smile on our faces, and determined not to get involved in anything, however the fourth official seemed to have a different agenda. Throughout the game he was abrasive, and I think that eventually led to a loss of patience.
"The tackle itself was one that could have been a red card. Graeme Shinnie had a similar one earlier which I thought was a yellow card and that was what was given, so I thought it would have been the same outcome for Lasley.
"It was a bit of a surprise when the referee changed his mind and showed a red card but he's entitled to, and I've no problem with that."
